The Hypnotic States of America

Foundation of Human Understanding ^ | May 19, 2011 | abigail2

[abigail2]

Born in London in 1928 of Jewish heritage, I grew up during the Second World War and knew that members of my extended family were murdered in the Holocaust. The puzzlement at how this could happen affected me from my earliest years.

How could an otherwise civilized society like Germany become so completely immersed in what appeared to be a madman leading a nation in a trance? This was no ordinary madness; trains ran on time, children went to school, the opera performed—the veneer of patriotic normalcy was everywhere and yet the people fought to the death for the beast from the pit. Hitler might have enveloped the entire world had he and his minions not been conquered by force—and recall that beating him was very difficult even with the combined efforts of the most powerful countries in the world. How could the German people ignore or allow the atrocities taking place directly in front of them?

There just had to be some kind of counter-hypnotic system, I pondered as a young man, perhaps what religious people called faith, or listening to one’s conscience, necessitating no other lawgiver. Something common to all humanity just had to be the guiding light and the “lamp unto our feet.” However, this being so, how did we get lost and how might we be found again? It didn’t take me long to realize that there were powerful religious and political forces that never wanted us to find that kind of freedom from the power they have held for thousands of years. Most puzzling was that entangled people tended to be loyal to their corrupters. Like dope addicts with their pushers, most people held fast to their systems, stubbornly defending what they thought of as themselves, which was in reality........

[abigail2]

Because I never look at today through yesterday’s eyes, I perceive everything afresh, every day anew. It is as though I see everything and everyone for the very first time every day, as they are now. As I perceive things and people in each moment, I also do so without resentment—so that I discern without judging. There is love in such discernment. When you add resentment, however, you turn healthy discernment into unhealthy judgment, and you remain entangled with what is happening now, long after it has faded into the past and even from your conscious memory

This is such a great book. It was written by Roy Masters. He has been so demonized over the years. I believe that is because he understands how a whole nation can be duped...and has there ever been a better time to understand that than now...here in America? Read the preview linked above.

[abigail2]

I hope you like this book as well I do. The link above leads to a very good preview of the book... Roy has been demonized because the powers that are trying to take over the world, recognize that he has the key to breaking that worldly connection, that trance we are in that allows us to be intimidated, and seduced; and to reconnect us to that awake, aware and powerful connection with our creator. (Hope I explained myself ok...I feel kind of unqualified to talk like this. But I know its true)

[fabian]

Thanks! It is also advertised in this months Readers Digest..20 million strong.
You just need to edit the title as it is Americans not America. They had a debate about which word to use but decided on Americans . I do see how,as Roy explains, it really is the little and big irritations of life that people use for energy as the hynotic catalyst. Conservatives especially need to wake up to this.

[abigail2]

THanks fabian, you are right it is Americans. I remember when I was young I used to see the ‘grown ups’ and they seemed to be asleep to me. Now I’m the one asleep, although maybe not as much as some...

[tedw]

Hmm. That is a very interesting preview you posted. I know that for much of my life I had resentment towards people for various things they had done to me. If that book helps people gain the ability to go thru life without resentment I am all for it. I am going to check out the link and read some more.

One thing for sure, there is not enough love in this world.

[tedw]

Hmm. That is a very interesting preview you posted. I know that for much of my life I had resentment towards people for various things they had done to me. If that book helps people gain the ability to go thru life without resentment I am all for it. I am going to check out the link and read some more.

One thing for sure, there is not enough love in this world.

[LearsFool]

How could an otherwise civilized society like Germany become so completely immersed in what appeared to be a madman leading a nation in a trance? This was no ordinary madness; trains ran on time, children went to school, the opera performed—the veneer of patriotic normalcy was everywhere

I believe "cognitive dissonance" explains much of this. Doing one thing and believing another creates a dissonance in the mind. The mind repels dissonance and seeks to harmonize action with belief. (Thus when the conscience bites, for instance, one has to choose between changing one's behavior or suppressing - and, over time, hardening - the conscience.)

Take our present situation: Our nation is being destroyed bit by bit, yet not all are suffering the effects. If you're living in the moment, not yet affected by the destruction, and still enjoying the prosperity that remains, then acknowledging that your country is being forcibly impoverished would create cognitive dissonance. How can you admit to yourself we're in a depression when you're driving a new car to a nice restaurant and having steak and lobster for dinner? The mind seeks to reconcile action and belief.

Or another example: Ever noticed that "preppers" and "survivalists" seem anxious for the poop to hit the prop? They've devoted a great deal of time, effort, and money to preparing for such an event, and now seek justification for it. And on the opposite side, those who have not prepared must argue that there is no need to do so.

Homer said, "The blade itself incites to violence." For, why have a blade (i.e. sword, knife, etc.) designed to do violence if you're not going to use it for its purpose? The mind demands justification for the purchase and possession of weapons.

The mind seeks harmony. It demands explanation, justification, rationalization for behavior. So (back to the original question) if you're not going to oppose the direction of the society around you, if you're going to go along as if everything is normal, your mind will tend to harmonize your beliefs with that action.

Salesmen, social manipulators, advertisers, self-help gurus, revolutionaries - they all know this: If you can get people to act, even just a little, you can change their beliefs. Why? Because the mind demands harmony between action and belief.

[abigail2]

Yes, when I look back on my life it seems I was so asleep, and I was very angry, although I wouldn’t have said so at the time. Anger is hypnotic. When I try to talk to some of these brainwashed kids if I let myself get angry, my words get all tied up and don’t come out right. But if I’m calm they can be very effective.

[abigail2]

Thats not the actual cover, but it looks good until I can find one that isn't too big to post!

[andy58-in-nh]

I enjoyed reading that fascinating and compelling preview. Thanks for sharing it - I’m quite interested in reading the book.

[ConservativeDude]

Just reading this preview, and not yet the book, I must say that the problem any analysis of this sort that purports to be comprehensive, as it were, is that it sort of proves too much. The author’s system could also be yet another sort of hypnosis.

I suppose, for me, it comes back to this: only Jesus Christ can give us knowledge of the world, and ourselves, as it truly is. Only the Holy Spirit living inside us can allow us to discern anything beyond mundane truths. That would of course include living in love, and without resentment. But I think invoking “love” without Christ is another form of deception and self-worship, just more dog-chasing-tail.

All of the above hinges, of course, on the Bible being true since that is where we learn about Christ. It seems to me, personally, that the Bible IS true, and the more I experience of life, and the more I know about the world (through history, literature, and my own direct experience), the more that it seems to me that the Bible is the only thing that explains all of reality in a way that is satisfying.

All that said...I am very open to this book, and I might even buy it. There is almost nothing that I am not willing and eager to look at closely.

So thanks for posting. And I hope my comments above advance a good conversation, in the best traditions of FR....

[abigail2]

If you can get people to act, even just a little, you can change their beliefs. Why? Because the mind demands harmony between action and belief.

We hate to admit our actions aren't our own. That we are being manipulated.

Solve this one problem of resenting, and it will free you to resolve all others. The roots of your ongoing problems begin to be starved of the energy that sustains them when you master a simple technique that enables you to no longer resent. So long as you keep feeding them with resentment, your problems will continue to grow and thrive despite your determination to rise up against them.
Roy Masters

[meatloaf]

It as simple as us versus them. You can watch a form of it at any Friday night high school football game.

[abigail2]

Great! It’s really interesting isn’t it. Nothing quite like it. Really he’s a remarkable person, very unusual.

[blackie]

You are as qualified as anyone!

[GOPJ]

Be mindful of resentment, because holding on to it deepens the programmed extremes of rebelling and conforming from which there is no way out other than letting go of the resentment that has always pulled you away from being poised in the present moment and instead locked you into emotional thinking about the past and the future. Letting go of resentment, then, would be as if you were saying quietly to yourself, without words, “Father, forgive them for they know not what they do.”

Powerful. There's wisdom in forgiveness that transcends it's simplicity.

[abigail2]

THat which is inside where he is hoping to point the way to and the bible is pointing the way to...IS Christ. The kingdom is within. I knew this when I was a child and I lost it and now I am finding it again. BE STILL AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD. It’s inside ourselves. Also I believe the author means that the people of Germany and alas...here in the United States were deceived into thinking they were children of God when they weren’t so they were powerless to do anything when they realized what was happening. It’s like being in a cave and seeing the light on the wall from the sun outside. You think you know what the sun is, but its not until you step outside and see it and feel that you can know it.

[abigail2]

THanks blackie....molon labe!

[abigail2]

I know you didn’t address me, but what do you mean? What is?

[ConservativeDude]

I don’t see it that the Bible teaches that the kingdom of God is within.

I don’t pretend that the kingdom of God is utterly clear cut in Scripture. It is an intricate concept, for sure. But I don’t think it can be said that the Bible teaches that the kingdom is within us.

I am also skeptical of pointing the way to Christ without mentioning Him.

Again, all that said...I think there is plenty here for a Bible-believing Christian to make use of. I do agree that this sort of therapeutic/inward looking approach has some utility. Just why are we (ie, I, you, others, everyone) neurotic? There is some utility to trying to know yourself. But that is not absolutely necessary. The bottom line is that, as taught in Scripture, we have to know that we are sinners, in need of Christ, and that we should take every thought captive in obedience to Him. To know Him, we must know the Bible and meditate on it day and night. We must be ambitious in that regard.

And to that end....should we be aware of the awful tendency of sinful humans to resentment? Yes, indeed, we should. The author is doing a service in pointing that. Resentment (the very foundation of liberalism) is truly a deadly sin. We MUST attack it and root it out.

(But only Jesus can do that for us.....).